Every year, the incoming freshman classes have fears about the adjustment into high school.
At Foran, the community is there to support them and help them adjust to their new environment. For example, the Natural Helpers program run by Journalism teacher Lisa Farrell and Special Education teacher Melissa Kaminski gives freshmen a community of students to help them familiarize themselves with high school.
Senior Isabella Sanchez says, “…my freshman year I had to try to make a lot of new friends… So my biggest piece of advice to freshmen is to put yourself out there, join clubs or sports, or talk to new kids in your class because that way it will make school more fun to look forward to.”
Sanchez further expresses that her transition from middle to high school with the pandemic was especially hard socially.
Junior Devon Hines says, “…The biggest thing I did to ease the transition was joining lots of clubs and taking part in whatever activities and events I could. Once I embraced the community I was gonna spend the next four years in, I felt like I found my place.”
Teachers are a crucial part of the high school experience, supporting their students in their path to graduation.
English teacher Chelsea Green explains, “I’ve noticed that freshmen start the school year afraid to talk to other peers…These students are always friends by the end of the year, so freshmen should not be scared to strike up a conversation with others because before long they will probably be good friends.”
Ms. Green prides herself on her classroom’s organizational skills. She encourages these habits to allow students the chance to begin their independence and self-management skills.
Some freshmen are fortunate to already have people in the school that are personally available to help them through their transition. Siblings, cousins, friends, etc. are available to help the freshmen and support them as they adjust.
Freshman Sidney Wiederhold states, “My older sister, Lindsay, taught me about the color-coded hallways and what classes are in each colored hallway. Also, she knows people in the school already, so I am able to talk to more people in other grades to ask questions.”
Having people in the school that are familiar to help her, Wiederhold explains, has helped her adjust better to high school. She has also stated that her experience hasn’t been as nerve-wracking as she believed it would be, and she shares that to the class after her to remember as well.
Words from Ms. Green to remember as a freshmen, and in everyday life, “You may not have control over the past, but you have control of every moment from this point forward to create a path that makes you happy.”
